When I babysit I need time to clean up and be ready for the next thing the children want to do how to do this?

Question

the kids i normally babysit take "naps" what i do is i put a movie on in 2 rooms 1 in each room and let them stay there for a hour and a half while i clean up and get ready for the next activity for the kids is that wrong if the kids are 8 and 6

Answer 1

At 8 and 6 they should be old enough to help you clean up. Make it fun like a game.  Although I would think the 6 year old especially would LOVE to help.  My 5 year old son is very cooperative with helping me put laundry away and even does some dishes.

So...try again. Tell them you will not start the next thing until the current thing is all cleaned up and make it a race to see if you can get it all done in 2 minutes or whatever.  Trust me -- they will start cooperating.

Answer 2

they're old enough to help clean up, especially if they've helped make the mess and want to do something else.  sticking them in front of a video doesn't seem like you're babysitting, but the video is.

Answer 3

You can use a clean up song and get them in on it.  Find an upbeat song that you like, or just get a Crazy Frog CD.  Elementary school kids LOVE the music, and their little bodies can't help but move.  Might as well make the movement productive, right?  

I think 8 is way too old to be told to nap, even if that just means watching a movie.  Why not just plop them down in front of the TV to watch something together while you clean, or have that be a time for them to color or something?

Answer 4

No i don't think that is wrong, but does it really take you that long to clean something up?